National Republican., 1887-01-01
THE WELLS OF INDIA,
Drawing of Water n Daily Duty OF
Hindoo wives.
IHindoo, In 81, James's Gazette. i

Hindoo wives.
fIindoo in st. James's Gazette.l
From time immemorial drawing water at |
the well has been one OF the principal daily |
duties Of poor Ilindoo wife. In northern
India wells are generally dug outside the |
town or village, wherefrom the women, old |
and young (but more often the latter), |
start twice a day-early In the morning |
and at o'clock in the afternoon--to fetch |
water home, carrying earthen vessels on
their head or under one OF their arms.
Arriving at the well, they attach the loose
end OF the rope that is fastened at one
side OF its circular mouth 10 the
earthen pitcher, which then they let down
into the well. The vessel will hold about
six or seven quarts Of water, which is
good weight TO pull up; and the women
have TO take great care that the vessel,
which comes up with swinging motion,
does not strike against the sides Of the
well, as the least stroke would dash
II to pieces. Sometimes one or two
beams are thrown across the well near
the edge, whereon women rest one OF
their feet, throwing on 1t the weight Of
their whole body, OF course must be un-
derstood to describe here the primitive
wells from which water is drawn solely by
the hand. Very often you may see fifteen
after having great deal OF gossiplDg, go
home In groups.
The caste Difficulty shows itself as prom
inently at the well as elsewhere. Women
OF different castles must not touch each
others vessels. Iindoos of various sects
will not take water to drink from each other.
| In some parts, at the wells where both men
and women draw water, the Brahmins will
use brass or copper vessels belonging TO
persons Of other castes after scrubbing them
well with dust and water and washing
| them. leather bag need only be washed,
for, having come originally from the
tanner, who is Of very low caste, no fur.
ther deflement can happen to IL. But
strict Hindoos, whether Brahmins or others,
| will never drink water that has been drawn
In a leather bag, nor use II for ablutions
In villages where there is but one well per-
| sons Of low caste and out-castes draw water
| on one side OF II, and when they are gone
| Brahmins and other superior castes come
and draw water from the other side. Where
there are many wells In village 1t is usual
to set apart special one for people Of low
or no castes.
Wells are naturally greatly priced in the
arid, hot parts of India, and many Hindoos
earn great renown by making them where
they are much needed. Some religious
people seek for merit 10 the construction Of
large wells 10 public thoroughfares and
other places for the purpose OF supplying
travellers with water. Very often people
use them for irrigating their fields. A large
well, built Of strong masonry, with circu-
lar, white, smooth platform round Ii for
people TO sit OH when they draw or drink
water, costs from 1000 to 5000 rupees.
Even the wants Of the brute
creation are not overlooked by
the Hindoos. They make reser-
voirs Of strong masonry, about five or six
| lie I'd xutl 10 ali tnt N
WE'LL and In the hot season these are kept
filed with water. Returning from pasture
| or from the fields in the forenoon for re-
pose, and retiring at dusk for the night,
whole droves Of cows, bullocks, buffaloes,
and goats slake their thirst here.
Landowners and wealthy men vie with
each other in constructing these wells and
| reservoirs; and princes sometimes Initiate
the example OF their opulent subjects.
The average cost OF an ordinary well has
been estimated to be about 300 or 400
rupees.
Wells have been objects Of great endear-
ment with some villagers. Not satisfied
with wasting time and money in their own
and their children's marriages and in those
Of idols and trees, they sometimes marry
wells with great pomp and ceremony. In
some parts Of the country wells are wor
shipped, and votive offerings are often seer
lying near them.
Wells in India were at one time put t,
the most dreadful uses. Wayfarers ant
others were murdered and their bodie
thrown into thom. Criminals were ofte
thrown down them, and even at this da
many horrid deeds are done at the wells 4
out of the-way parts of India.
Jung Bahadur, OF Nepal, used to tell
\ remarkable story about well. A not I'm
common mode OF execution in Nepal is =
throw the defender down a well. |
occurred to young Jung, who was bred al
amidst the intrigues and plots and counter
plots OF the Nepalese court, that II was tn
fault OF the victim II he did not come VI
again aliye and unhurt; and, In order tC
test the matter and also be prepared TO
any case of future emergency, he practicet
the art Of jumping down wells. By and b.
1t actually happened that Jung was sen
fenced by his prince to this punishment
Undismayed, he begged one last favor o
his sovereign-that he might be permitted
to Jump In. SO reasonable request wal
at once granted. Surrounded by a larg,
number of people, the prince himself form
ing one of the sightseers, jung went to 1
well, where, taking of his supertluoui
clothes, he crossed his legs, jumped boldly
down, and In moment was lost to view o.
|.the prince and his courtisrs, who, assured
OF the doom OF their victim by the dul
splash, returned to the palace. The sup
posed drowned man, however, was quit
. safe and sound, clinging to the sides OF th,
well, which he knew beforehand to b.
plentifully provided with chinks and Gran
nies. At midnight his friends, who hat
been previously rehearsed in their part
came and rescued him from his upcomfort
able position. After awhile, when affair
In the Nepalese court took a favorable turl
for him, Jung Bahudar allowed his friend
to resuscitate him, and this adventure di'
much to restore the future prime ministe
of Nepal to the favor OF his sovereign.